In the face of the tragic events we’ve seen lately, the question naturally arises: Is it possible to feel normal again, and if so, is it possible to feel joy again? In the midst of grief or sadness, happiness can seem elusive and it can be accompanied by feelings of guilt. Yet life without joy loses its meaning.
The saying “laughter is the best medicine” actually goes thousands of years back to scripture, where Proverbs records, “A joyful heart is good medicine.”
Practices like laughter Continue Reading

The new Pixar movie, “Inside Out” has been described by critics as the animation studio’s best since their 1995 blockbuster success, “Toy Story.” This latest film brings to life a rare inside view of the emotional conflicts within a pre-teen’s mind.
The main character, Riley, is transplanted with her family from their home in Minnesota to San Francisco. At first, “Joy” is the paramount emotion in Riley’s head, squashing out anger, frustration, fear, disgust, and sadness. But soon these other Continue Reading

“Fixer Upper” has taken HGTV by storm. It’s the popular home design show featuring Chip and Joanna Gaines, a dynamic and totally endearing couple from Waco, Texas who are known for taking the worst house on the best street and turning it into the house everyone wants.
I recently posted a video on my Facebook page featuring Joanna's story of her inspiring trust in God’s direction for her life purpose. Judging from the number of repeat shares, I suspect my husband and I weren’t the only ones Continue Reading

Today’s guest blog is by Boston-based writer, Kim Shippey, whose book reviews offer a helpful perspective on the intersection of health with spirituality, culture, and faith.
A report on the relation between prayer and good health published by Richard Schiffman has been given fresh prominence by a book on prayer from preacher, author, and public speaker, Timothy Keller, Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God (Dutton, 2014).
I doubt any conscious attempt to link report and book, but Continue Reading

Guest blog by Boston-based writer, Kim Shippey, whose book reviews offer a helpful perspective on the intersection of health with spirituality, culture, and faith. This one takes a closer look at cultivating the quality of grace as we move into the New Year.
Philip Yancey was riding a wave of success after the launching of his book, What's So Amazing About Grace? when I first met him. It was 15 years ago, just after he had given a keynote address to 10,000 people at a Vision New Continue Reading

This blog was originally published on RewireMe.com. You can read and share it HERE .
Anyone who has suffered from chronic migraines knows the feeling of not being able to think, just wanting to sleep and turn off the pain. For me, the headaches started in high school and continued into my early married years. They were sporadic but intense. I couldn’t tolerate light or noise. Sometimes I missed school and work. But they were always over in the morning, like a nightmare that passes but Continue Reading

This blog is also published on Huffington Post's HEALTHY LIVING PAGE. For many, health care is no longer just about caring for their body. People are waking up to what they can do to contribute to their health on a mental level. That often means considering the healthy impact of their spiritual practice, whether that involves regular visits to the temple, the mosque, a meditation room, or church. There’s now plenty of research to support these findings.
This mindful vs. physical approach is Continue Reading

By Guest-blogger Kim Shippey in recognition of Men's Health Week, June 9-15, which concludes with Father's Day on Sunday: I have long been an admirer of ABC Television‘s news reporter and host Dan Harris -- a seemingly unflappable anchor, in the truest sense of that word.
Then, in June, 2004, live on air, Harris suffered a panic attack in front of an audience of millions and we came face to face with a vulnerability we wouldn’t have believed possible in someone of his experience and Continue Reading

March is Women's History month. This year's theme, according to the National Women's History Project site is: Celebrating Women's Character, Courage, and Commitment. The following blog honors an extraordinary woman in the 19th century who made significant contributions to spiritual and religious education as a teacher, writer, and leader. Her courage and commitment are clearly evident in the body of work she accomplished.
Mary Baker Eddy was no ordinary woman. Behind her Victorian-era Continue Reading

Send just one letter of appreciation to someone who has never been properly thanked and the feel-good benefits could last up to a month. Write in a gratitude journal every day for 10 weeks and you will likely feel more optimistic about your life and visit your physician less often. If you're a manager and you take the time to say thank you to your employees you'll find they'll be motivated to work harder. That's according to research at Harvard Medical School ("In Praise of Gratitude").
In the Continue Reading

Ingrid Peschke

I am the media and legislative advocate for Christian Science in Massachusetts as well as a practitioner of Christian Science with an expertise in prayer-based healing. I write regularly on issues and trends in health care, with a particular focus on the positive impact of spirituality and prayer on a person's well-being. For the last ten years I worked as an online and print editor in Boston for The Christian Science Publishing Society.